Throw away poker

ABSTRACT

The method of the present invention utilizes the existing electronic video poker machine (that is standard to the industry) to display two separate sets of cards or multiple sets of cards on a standard video poker machine video screen. The apparition screen or picture in a picture screen format will give a picture of a separate set of cards dealt by a separate microprocessor at the same time as the first microprocessor; or, a single microprocessor can be programmed to display two separate sets of cards on a standard video poker machine video screen. The present invention allows the player to choose which screen to play by making an additional wager.

BACKGROUND

Video poker play is known in casino locale. Conventional video poker or draw poker has been around for quit a few years now and is widely accepted in the casino industry. The player does not play against the dealer or other players. The video machine was designed to let players play against the machine with randomly dealt cards. The player simply tries to achieve the highest possible ranking poker hand.

At this time, there are numerous ways to play video poker. The machines are designed to accept the coin drop and automatically deal a set of five cards that appear on a video screen. The player can discard the cards not wanted. The player still must make an initial commitment as to the number of draw cards. The player then uses the draw cards to replace the unwanted cards to make a hand. The payoff tables are varied depending on the number of coins dropped. The player usually discards anywhere from one to five cards depending what was randomly dealt by the microprocessor in the machine. After discarding, the microprocessor randomly picks new cards and displays them on the screen. The player either wins or looses depending on the outcome.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,916 (Moody) discloses a method for a video poker game. In his patent he discloses a method with dealing the player an initial five-card poker hand from a standard deck of playing cards and the cards are displayed in five locations on the video display screen. Any of the five cards that match in card rank are grouped together and stacked on top of each other and positioned at a single card location. Replacement cards for the matching cards are dealt from the deck so that all five card locations of the initial deal are filled. If any of the replacement cards match in rank, then those cards are grouped together. Then those cards are grouped together until all five-card locations have cards or groups of cards. The deal stops when the last card dealt does not match any of the existing cards. The player then selects which of the cards in the five locations he or she wishes to discard and which he wishes to hold. The final hand is determined using all of the cards shown on the display screen including the stacked cards. Poker hand rankings are used to determine the winning hand combinations. A payout schedule is used to award the player based on a winning combination.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,022 (Wood) discloses a method of playing a casino-type poker game which can be played as either a table game or video game wherein a player, by making an additional wager can draw a sixth card so as to make the best poker hand from the six cards provided the sixth card could possibly result in the player's obtaining a straight or better. The amount of the payback on the second wager varies depending on the first five cards.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,120 (Schultz) discloses a method of poker variation in which the player must make an initial commitment as to the number of unwanted cards. The player then uses draw cards to replace unwanted cards one at a time. The variation also provides the player with an option to end the game prior to drawing the committee number of cards with a reduced final payoff.

None of the above U.S. Patents mentioned use a method of dealing a separate set of cards simultaneously, in two different locations, on the same video screen for a player to choose from to build a poker hand of choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates primarily to electronic video games, and mainly to electronic video poker machines. This invention is based on poker hand rankings dealt, and allows the player to discard and replace unwanted cards and hands with fresh cards at the commencement of play. The method of the present invention commences with dealing the player an initial poker hand from two standard decks of playing cards and the cards are displayed in two separate locations on a video screen. One coin acceptor apparatus, connected to both the main microprocessor and a second microprocessor that is to industry standards, controls both decks at the start of the deal. Two sets of hands are dealt. One set (the main set) is directly in front of the player in center screen; and, the second set or (set of cards) is located to the right and top of the main set in a (second picture window) for the player to observe. If the player does not like the main set of cards dealt, and decides not to keep it, the player has the option of accepting the second set of cards in the second picture window for an extra wager if he so chooses. By inserting an extra wager to replace the first set, the screen in the main set of cards dealt would disappear and the second set would appear in the main screen and the player would continue playing that hand. The method is very simple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. depicts a video screen detailing how the position of the cards would be placed on a touch type screen or video screen utilizing the electro-mechanical buttons.

FIG. 2. depicts a triple card poker screen with the picture in picture window showing the second set of cards dealt by the second microprocessor.

FIG. 3. shows a flow chart on basically how single deck machine would work.

FIG. 4. is a continuation of the flow chart displaying the result of the outcome of play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention starts with dealing the player two sets of cards at the same time. One set is dealt to the main screen 14. The second set, is also dealt to the second picture window (or secondary screen) 20 by a single microprocessor programmed to do so. Both hands are displayed at the same time on the main video screen 10. As the cards 22 are displayed on the main screen 14, a separate set of cards 16 are displayed in the window 20. Three of the five cards in the secondary screen 20 are dealt face down. The remaining two are dealt face up. The replace button 18 starts to blink. At this point in time, the player has the option to either replace the main screen cards 22 with the secondary cards 16. If the player decides to play the cards 22 in the main screen then the secondary screen 20 and the cards 16 in the secondary screen disappear along with the replace button 18. The player would then act upon or play the hand in the main screen 14. The player would then hold or discard the cards 22 by pressing the hold buttons 12 either on the video screen 10 or cabinet. After the player holds or discards the hand he or she will play. The player simply presses the deal button 24. The final hand is determined using the poker hand rankings. A payout schedule is provided to award the player based on a winning hand.

A second scenario would be when the player inserts the wager or credits to activate the video screen 10. The two microprocessors begin dealing the player two sets of cards at the same time. One set is dealt to the main screen 14. The second set, is also dealt to the second picture window (or secondary screen) 20. Both hands are displayed at the same time on the main video screen 10. As the cards 22 are displayed on the main screen 14, a separate set of cards 16 are displayed in the window 20, (three face up and two face down) the replace button 18 starts to blink. At this point in time, the player has the option to either replace the main screen cards 22 with the secondary cards 16. If the player decides to accept the secondary card screen 20, he must insert an extra wager in the coin slot on the machine (or use the credits) and press the replace button to erase the cards 22 in screen 14. The cards 16 in the secondary screen 20 automatically move to the main screen 14 (all face up) and these cards become the hand that the player acts upon. The secondary screen 20 disappears and so does the replace button 18 on the video screen 10. The player then acts upon the hand in the same fashion as the first scenario. 

1. A method of playing a card game on a video screen comprising of dealing an initial two sets of hands (ten cards) in two separate locations on a video screen the main screen and a secondary screen by means of; a) two cards face up and three cards face down in the secondary screen and by means of; b) five cards face up in the main screen on a video monitor or screen.
 2. The method of playing a card game on a video screen comprising dealing an initial two sets of hands (fifteen cards) in two separate locations on a video screen the main screen and a secondary screen by means of; a) six cards face up and nine cards face down in the secondary screen and by means of; b) fifteen cards face up in the main screen on a video monitor or screen.
 3. A method of displaying two card games on a video screen simultaneously in two different locations by use of a microprocessor dealing two separate hands of cards at the same moment in time that is activated by a coin acceptor or bill validator.
 4. A method of dealing two separate hands of cards in two different locations on a video screen using two microprocessors coupled to one coin acceptor or bill validator that triggers the microprocessors to do so.
 5. A method of dealing two separate hands of cards in two different locations on a video screen using one microprocessor coupled to one coin acceptor or bill validator that triggers the microprocessors to do so.
 6. A method of erasing one set of cards dealt by a microprocessor on a video screen by use of a replace button located on a touch screen of a video display.
 7. A method of erasing one set of cards dealt by two microprocessors on a video screen by use of a replace button located on a touch screen of a video display and isolating one of the microprocessors into hibernation until the hand acted upon is complete. 